Chapter 7: The Memory They Stole
Claire’s voice continued playing through the speakers.
And with every word, I felt like I was falling deeper into a life I didn’t recognize.
“Victor… if you’re hearing this, it means they failed.””
A crackle.
A shaky breath.
“I don’t know how much you remember. I don’t know what they told you. But you need to listen carefully.””
I stood completely still.
Serena was beside the desk.
For once, she wasn’t pretending.
She looked afraid.
Claire continued.
“The night of the accident, I wasn’t running away from you.””
My throat tightened.
“I was trying to protect you.””
The room felt colder.
Marcus looked at me.
I couldn’t look away from the recording.
“I found the documents. I found what your father did. I found what Richard and his partners did to my family.””
A pause.
“But the worst part wasn’t what they did.””
Another pause.
“It was what they planned to do next.””
My fingers curled into fists.
“Your father created a system. A way to control Blackwood Industries forever. He made sure nobody could challenge him.””
The recording crackled.
“And when he died, that responsibility was supposed to pass to you.””
I swallowed.
“But you weren’t supposed to know the truth.””
The words hit me.
“What does that mean?”” I whispered.
Claire continued.
“Victor, three years ago, you signed papers you don’t remember signing.””
My eyes moved to the document on the table.
The ownership transfer agreement.
“You were drugged.””
Silence.
Serena looked down.
I turned toward her.
She didn’t deny it.
Claire’s voice continued.
“They needed your signature. They needed you to legally take control of everything.””
My heart pounded.
“Who?””
The recording answered before anyone else could.
“Serena.””
The room went silent.
Serena closed her eyes.
Marcus looked shocked.
But Claire wasn’t finished.
“She wasn’t alone.””
A pause.
“She had help.””
My hands shook.
“Richard.””
The name came out like poison.
Claire continued.
“Richard Vale has been controlling Blackwood Industries from the shadows for years.””
I stared at Marcus.
The man who had helped my family for decades.
The man who disappeared after Claire died.
The man who was suddenly connected to everything.
“The night I died, I confronted them.””
Claire’s voice became quieter.
“I told Serena I would expose everything.””
A sound of movement.
Like she was crying while recording.
“I thought she would be angry.””
A pause.
“I never thought she would be afraid.””
The recording ended.
Nobody spoke.
For a full minute, the only sound was the hum of the air conditioner.
Then I turned to Serena.
“You knew.””
She looked at me.
“Yes.””
My jaw tightened.
“You knew everything.””
“Yes.””
“And you let me believe Claire was just another tragedy.””
Her eyes filled.
“I didn’t kill her.””
“You were there.””
“Yes.””
“Then tell me what happened.””
Serena looked toward the window.
“When Claire confronted me, she had proof.””
“What proof?””
“Enough to destroy Richard.””
“Not you?””
Her silence answered.
I stepped closer.
“Why would Richard hurt Claire?””
“Because Claire wasn’t just exposing him.””
Serena looked at me.
“She was exposing you.””
The words stopped me.
“What?””
“Victor, Richard needed you.””
“For what?””
“To take the blame.””
I laughed.
A broken, angry laugh.
“You’re saying I was part of this?””
“No.””
Her voice became desperate.
“I’m saying you were used.””
I looked at the document.
The signature.
My signature.
“How?””
Serena hesitated.
Then she said:
“Because Richard knew something about you.””
“What?””
“That your father hid a medical condition.””
The room went silent.
I stared.
“What are you talking about?””
She looked away.
“You had memory problems.””
I felt a chill.
“No.””
“You forgot things after stressful events.””
“That’s impossible.””
“Is it?””
She stepped closer.
“Do you remember signing that agreement?””
I didn’t answer.
Because I didn’t.
“Do you remember the week before your father died?””
Nothing.
A strange emptiness.
Like a door in my mind had been locked.
Serena whispered:
“That’s what Richard used.””
I grabbed the edge of the desk.
“You knew?””
“Yes.””
“Then why stay with me?””
Her face changed.
And for the first time, I saw something genuine.
Regret.
“Because Claire asked me to.””
I froze.
“What?””
“She knew I wasn’t innocent.””
Serena’s voice broke.
“But she also knew Richard was worse.””
I stared at her.
“Claire trusted you?””
“She told me to protect you.””
“Why?””
“Because she knew if Richard realized you remembered everything…”
She stopped.
“Then what?””
Serena looked toward the dark hallway.
“He would finish what he started.””
A sound came from upstairs.
A floorboard.
We all froze.
Marcus reached for his weapon.
“You’re not alone.””
I looked toward the stairs.
A shadow moved.
Then disappeared.
Marcus ran upstairs.
Seconds later, he shouted:
“Victor!””
I followed.
The front door was open.
Cold air rushed inside.
Nobody was there.
Except for one thing.
A small envelope on the floor.
My name was written on it.
Not Claire’s handwriting.
Not Serena’s.
Richard’s.
Inside was a single photograph.
It showed me.
Three years earlier.
Sitting at a table.
Signing documents.
But beside me was someone I didn’t recognize.
A doctor.
May you like
On the back of the photo were six words.
*You never wanted to remember.*
